he abuse of God's favour leads to punishment. (1-8) A promise
of God's mercy. (9-16)
Verses 1-8: While Ephraim kept up a holy fear of God, and worshipped
Him in that fear, so long he was very considerable. When Ephraim
forsook God, and followed idolatry, he sunk. Let the men that
sacrifice kiss the calves, in token of their adoration of them,
affection for them, and obedience to them; but the Lord will not
give his glory to another, and therefore all that worship images
shall be confounded. No solid, lasting comfort, is to be
expected any where but in God. God not only took care of the
Israelites in the wilderness, he put them in possession of
Canaan, a good land; but worldly prosperity, when it feeds men's
pride, makes them forgetful of God. Therefore the Lord would
meet them in just vengeance, as the most terrible beast that
inhabited their forests. Abused goodness calls for greater
severity.
Verses 9-16: Israel had destroyed himself by his rebellion; but he
could not save himself, his help was from the Lord only. This
may well be applied to the case of spiritual redemption, from
that lost state into which all have fallen by wilful sins. God
often gives in displeasure what we sinfully desire. It is the
happiness of the saints, that, whether God gives or takes away,
all is in love. But it is the misery of the wicked, that,
whether God gives or takes away, it is all in wrath, nothing is
comfortable. Except sinners repent and believe the gospel,
anguish will soon come upon them. The prophecy of the ruin of
Israel as a nation, also showed there would be a merciful and
powerful interposition of God, to save a remnant of them. Yet
this was but a shadow of the ransom of the true Israel, by the
death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He will destroy death
and the grave. The Lord would not repent of his purpose and
promise. Yet, in the mean time, Israel would be desolated for
her sins. Without fruitfulness in good works, springing from the
Holy Spirit, all other fruitfulness will be found as empty as
the uncertain riches of the world. The wrath of God will wither
its branches, its sprigs shall be dried up, it shall come to
nothing. Woes, more terrible than any from the most cruel
warfare, shall fall on those who rebel against God. From such
miseries, and from sin, the cause of them, may the Lord deliver
us.
he abuse of God's favour leads to punishment. (1-8) A promise
of God's mercy. (9-16)